Pyrography is the art of applying a heated object, such as a poker, in a precise manner to create burn marks on wood or other materials. Pokerwork, or wood-burning, is another term for it.
In Greek, the words pur (fire) and graphos (writing) are translated as “writing with fire” (writing).
With the right magnifying lens, sunlight may also be used to magnify the heat of a metal instrument heated in a fire. “Phenomenon of pyrography began in the 17th century and peaked in the 19th century. It is pokerwork in its most basic form.”
Colors can be achieved in a wide range of hues. Temperature, tip type, and application method all affect the outcome. After the design has been burnt into the wood, it is common to apply a coat of paint. Woods such as sycamore, basswood, beech, and birch, which have a fine grain, are most usually utilized. In addition, maple, pine, and oak are also used. Leather goods can also be decorated with pyrography using the same hot-iron method. In addition to creating dramatic motifs, leather can also be used to accomplish very subtle shading. It is essential to utilize vegetable-tanned leather, often in light colors, to create pyrography because modern tanning procedures leave chemicals in the leather that are harmful when burned.
In addition to gourd crafts and artists, pyrography is a popular decorating of the hard-shell gourd with motifs.